This document discusses the role and career opportunities for veterinary technicians working in research. It outlines their responsibilities in areas like sample collection, anesthesia support, surgery assistance, regulatory compliance and animal husbandry. Careers are available in pharmaceutical, academic, government and other research institutions. Pay ranges from $40,500 to $77,000 annually on average depending on role and location. Benefits include career variety, animal interaction and continuing education, while downsides include paperwork and responsibility for large animal populations.

1. The Role of the Technician
• Utilize your education and training as a Veterinary
Technician to support veterinary and research staff:
– Collect and process laboratory samples
– Anesthesia support
– Surgery and surgical support
– Regulatory Compliance
– Husbandry management
– Environmental enrichment
– Clinical care for animals
– Ensure humane animal care and valid research
results

2. Career Opportunities
• Laboratory Animal Health Technician
• Training Coordinator
• Research Associate
• Supervisor/Manager
• IACUC Specialist
• Environmental Enrichment Coordinator

3. Where are these Technicians?
• Pharmaceutical industry
• Non-profit institutions
• Academia (Universities)
• Biomedical research
• Nutritional or food companies
• Zoos and wildlife/ conservation
• Government / Military

4. Pay Scale
Research National Average
Private Practice National Average
$40,500-$77,000 $26,560-$30,500
• $40,000 Staff Research • $31,520 Northeast
Associate • $29,370 South
• $41,000 Laboratory Animal • $29,060 Midwest
Health Technician • 29,010 West
• $53,050 Training
Coordinator/Supervisor
• $77,000 Manager AALAS 2005 Compensation Survey
• $60,000 IACUC Specialist NAVTA November 2003

5. Benefits/Downside?
Benefits Downside
• Non-traditional veterinary • Less client and pet interaction
medicine
• Stress of being responsible for
• Work environment
thousands of animals
• Variety-no two days will be the
same! • Public perception and animal
• Diverse laboratory animal rights extremists
species – Veterinarians and
• People and communication
skills veterinary technicians
• Publishing are there to ensure
• Continuing education and health and welfare of
travel animals
• Benefits
• Paperwork and more paperwork!

6. Other research team members
• Principal Investigator (PI)
• Co-investigator & Research technicians
• Laboratory Animal Veterinarian
• Laboratory Animal Technicians
• Animal Suppliers/Equipment Manufacturers

7. Educational Opportunities
• Drexel University- Masters of Laboratory
Animal Science (MLAS)
• Ohio State University- Masters in Laboratory
Animal Medicine